A Friend in London

A Friend in London
A Friend in London at Eurovision
Background information
Origin	Vostrup, Denmark
Genres	Soft rock, alternative rock, pop rock
Years active	2005 – 2014
Labels	ArtPeople (2012-2014)
Past members	Aske Damm Bramming (2005-2013) Esben Svane (2005-2013) Sebastian Vinther Olsen (2005-2013) Tim Schou (2005-2014) Jesper Madsen (2013-2014) Johan Jørgensen (2013-2014) Thomas Duus (2013-2014)

A Friend in London was a Danish pop rock and rock band that represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany in the second semi-final with the song "New Tomorrow" and took 5th place in the final with 134 points. In 2014, 3 years after representing Denmark at Eurovision, the group announced their split.

Members

• Páll "Tim" Schou - lead vocals, guitar
• Aske Damm Bramming - bass, backing vocals (2005-2013)
• Esben Svane - drums, backing vocals (2005-2013)
• Sebastian Vinther Olsen - guitar, backing vocals (2005-2013)
• Johan Jørgensen - guitar, backing vocals (2013-2014)
• Jesper Madsen - bass, backing vocals (2013-2014)
• Thomas Duus - drums, backing vocals (2013-2014)

Beginnings

A Friend in London (also known by its acronym AFIL) was formed in 2005 when the band members were at a boarding school in Vostrup, Denmark.^[1] The lead singer Páll Schou won the contest Danish Young Talent 2005 which led to the recording of the band's first single, "Thoughts of a Boheme".

The Danish national radio station P3 picked up on the sounds of the band, providing airplay for the single "Shoot Me". Danish TV station TV2 used the band's track "Dead Beat" in a TV-commercial contest.

The band started touring Denmark extensively with more than 100 different gigs. Their break came in 2008 with the Bodog Million Dollar Battle of the Bands where they won the European leg of the competition reaching the final 10 qualifying round in the United States. The band refused to continue further with the competition, because of complexity of contractual aspects the organizers wanted to impose on them and other participants.

Following that, they toured Canada and the United States. The band became very popular in Canada, where since 2009 they have made three successful tours, the last being in 2011. The tour included shows in June 2009 at NXNE (North by NorthEast) and Canadian Music Week as well as a performance at Breakfast TV, a major morning show in Toronto. They ended up signing a management agreement with a Canadian music group.

Music career

2011: Eurovision Song Contest

A Friend in London took part in 2011 version of the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with their song "New Tomorrow" written by Lise Cabble and Jakob Glæsner, winning the Danish preselection show and to go to represent Denmark in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. There was controversy and allegations that chorus of the song was plagiarized from a Chinese folk song "Silk Road" and big similarities with three other songs named: Andreas Johnson’s "Sing for Me" that participated in Melodifestivalen 2006, the German group Future Trance United's song "Face 2 Face", which itself was a cover from the song "Herz an Herz" from the German band Paso Doble from the year 1986, and Take That’s "Shine".^[2] One of the co-writers Jacob Glæsner commented that "the song is very popular in its expression and consist basically only of five tones. It is unavoidable that it doesn’t remind of a song one have already heard".^[2] Partly because of the criticism, the band has confirmed in interviews they will make changes to the song prior to presenting it in the Düsseldorf 2011 finals.

A Friend in London performed the song at the Eurovision 2011 and finished fifth, but caused controversy when lead singer Tim Schou said in front of a live audience "You know baby, I want to...I want to fuck you!" after Dutch singer Mandy Huydts announced that the Netherlands had awarded the song "New Tomorrow" twelve points.^[3] Schou later stated: "When the camera came and we got the first points I was so excited. I apologise, Europe! I apologise! We got the fifth place, baby!".^[4] Huydts has since claimed that she had found the incident hilarious.^[5]

2012-14: Unite and breakup

The band released their debut album Unite on 21 January 2013, having pre-released the tracks "New Tomorrow", "Calling a Friend" and "Get Rich in Vegas" in advance.

Prior to the release of the album, they supported New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys during their European tour. As a result, Howie D. of the Backstreet Boys is featured on a remake of "New Tomorrow". The track featuring Howie D. is found as a bonus track on the iTunes Deluxe Version. The album also featured the Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen on the track "Rest from the Streets".

On January 29, 2014, member Páll "Tim" Schou announced the band's breakup on their Facebook page.

In popular culture

Páll Schou, the lead vocalist of the band took part in the inaugural season of the reality television show Skjulte stjerner (meaning Hidden star) aired from 2 September to 14 October 2011 on Danish television. He introduced a young new Danish artist called Thomas Meilstrup mentoring him throughout the show and singing duets with him. Thomas and his mentor won the series and Thomas Meilstrup released his debut single "Almost There" featuring Tim Schou.

The band's single 'New Tomorrow' was used as the basis for the spaceflight documentary 'Challenging Endeavours: A tale of two shuttles' that premiered on YouTube in February 2013.

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Singles

Featured in

Other songs

• "Thoughts of a Boheme" (2005)
• "Dead Beat"
• "Shoot Me"
• "What a Way"
• "Freddie"
• "Break and Fall"
• "The Light"
• "New Tomorrow" (feat. Howie D) (2012)
• "New Tomorrow" (vs. Crystal Lake) (2012)
• "Rest from the Streets" featuring Carly Rae Jepsen (2013)

Videography

The band released music videos for various songs via Guineapig Productions. Directors included Ib Christian Henricson, Marie Louise Henricson and Lena Nyhus

• 2009: "The Light"
• 2010: "Now You're Here"
• 2010: "What a Way"
• 2011: "New Tomorrow"
• 2011: "Calling a Friend"
• 2012: "Get Rich in Vegas"
• 2013: "Rest from the Streets" featuring Carly Rae Jepsen with the actress Mathilde Norholt

References

External links

• YouTube page
• A Friend in London on Myspace
• A Friend in London on Twitter

Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest   Participation 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 to 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016   Artists 1950s 1956 Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler Raquel Rastenni Birthe Wilke 1960s Katy Bødtger Dario Campeotto Ellen Winther Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann Bjørn Tidmand Birgit Brüel Ulla Pia 1967 to 1969 1970s 1970 to 1977 Mabel Tommy Seebach 1980s Bamses Venner Tommy Seebach and Debbie Cameron Brixx Gry Johansen Hot Eyes Hot Eyes Lise Haavik Anne-Cathrine Herdorf and Bandjo Hot Eyes Birthe Kjær 1990s Lonnie Devantier Anders Frandsen Lotte Nilsson and Kenny Lübcke Tommy Seebach Band 1994 Aud Wilken Dorthe Andersen & Martin Loft Kølig Kaj 1998 Michael Teschl and Trine Jepsen 2000s Olsen Brothers Rollo & King Malene 2003 Thomas Thordarsson Jakob Sveistrup Sidsel Ben Semmane DQ Simon Mathew Niels Brinck 2010s Chanée and N'evergreen A Friend In London Soluna Samay Emmelie de Forest Basim Anti Social Media Lighthouse X   Songs 1950s 1956 "Skibet skal sejle i nat" "Jeg rev et blad ud af min dagbog" "Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig" 1960s "Det var en yndig tid" "Angelique" "Vuggevise" "Dansevise" "Sangen om dig" "For din skyld" "Stop - mens legen er go'" 1967 to 1969 1970s 1970 to 1977 "Boom Boom" "Disco Tango" 1980s "Tænker altid på dig" "Krøller eller ej" "Video, Video" "Kloden drejer" "Det' lige det" "Sku' du spørg' fra no'en?" "Du er fuld af løgn" "En lille melodi" "Ka' du se hva' jeg sa'?" "Vi maler byen rød" 1990s "Hallo Hallo" "Lige der hvor hjertet slår" "Alt det som ingen ser" "Under stjernerne på himlen" 1994 "Fra Mols til Skagen" "Kun med dig" "Stemmen i mit liv" 1998 "This Time I Mean It" 2000s "Fly on the Wings of Love" "Never Ever Let You Go" "Tell Me Who You Are" 2003 "Shame on You" "Talking to You" "Twist of Love" "Drama Queen" "All Night Long" "Believe Again" 2010s "In a Moment Like This" "New Tomorrow" "Should've Known Better" "Only Teardrops" "Cliche Love Song" "The Way You Are" "Soldiers of Love" (Note: Entries scored out are when Denmark did not compete)